Hydrangea plant named ‘QUFU’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Hydrangea macrophylla  named ‘QUFU’ that is characterized by its inflorescences with a flattened shape, its sterile flowers with very hard, almost leathery sepals and its sterile flowers with sepals that are green and pink with white-pink veins when newly opened becoming greener with age, and its good cut flower quality lasting at least 3 weeks as a fresh cut and for many months as a dried cut (when “classic”).

Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Varietal denomination: ‘QUFU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea macrophylla and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivarname, ‘QUFU’. ‘QUFU’ represents a new mophead type Hydrangea, adeciduous shrub grown for use as a landscape plant, potted plant and asa cut flower.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The Inventor madea cross on May 13, 2008 between unnamed proprietary plants in theInventor's breeding program; reference name Kroe-1 as the female parentand reference name GS-1 as the male parent. The Inventor selected ‘QUFU’as a single unique plant amongst the seedlings that resulted from theabove cross in spring of 2011.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by theInventor by softwood cuttings in Boskoop, The Netherlands in July 2010.Asexual propagation by softwood cuttings has determined that thecharacteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘QUFU’ as a unique cultivar of Hydrangea.

-   -   1. ‘QUFU’ exhibits inflorescences with a flattened shape.    -   2. ‘QUFU’ exhibits sterile flowers with very hard, almost        leathery sepals.    -   3. ‘QUFU’ exhibits sterile flowers with sepals that are green        and pink with white-pink veins when newly opened and becoming        greener with age.    -   4. ‘QUFU’ exhibits a good cut flower quality lasting at least 3        weeks as a fresh cut and for many months as the flowers age        (when classic green).

The female parent of ‘QUFU’, reference name Kroe-1, differs from ‘QUFU’in having white flowers, shorter stems, and globular shapedinflorescences. The male parent of ‘QUFU’, reference name GS-1, differsfrom ‘QUFU’ in having sterile flowers with softer, dark pink sepals withmuch less green suffusion. ‘QUFU’ can be most closely compared to thecultivars ‘Hokomathyst’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,261) and ‘Green Shadow’(not patented). ‘Hokomathyst’ is similar to ‘QUFU’ in having sterileflowers that are pink and green and in having an inflorescence with aflattened shape. ‘Hokomathyst’ differs from ‘QUFU’ in having longerstems, smaller sterile flower sepals, and flowering later in the season.‘Green Shadow’ is similar to ‘QUFU’ in having inflorescences with aflattened shape. ‘Green Shadow’ differs from ‘QUFU’ in having sterileflower sepals that are darker pink in color with less green suffusionand that lack light colored veins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Hydrangea. The photographs weretaken of a two year-old plant of ‘QUFU’ as grown in a 19-cm container ina shaded greenhouse in Boskoop, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of a plant of ‘QUFU’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of‘QUFU’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the foliage of‘QUFU’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new Hydrangea.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of two year-old plants of ‘QUFU’as grown in a shaded greenhouse in 19-cm containers in Boskoop, TheNetherlands. Phenotypic differences may be observed with variations inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions. The colordetermination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Commences in May and blooms for 6 months as            greenhouse grown plants in Boskoop, the Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub, mophead type Hydrangea.        -   Plant habit.—Broad upright.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 45.8 cm in height and 66.5            cm in spread.        -   Hardiness.—U.S.D.A. zone 5 to at least U.S.D.A zone 9,            moderate tolerance to wind, moderate to high tolerance to            rain.        -   Diseases resistance.—No particular susceptibility or            resistance to diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fine and fibrous.        -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.        -   Growth rate and vigor.—Moderate.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem shape.—Rounded.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Stem color.—New growth; 143C with N186A at the nodes, mature            growth; a blend of 165B to 165C and N199D.        -   Stem size.—Average of 32.4 cm in length and 6 mm in            diameter.        -   Stem surface.—Glabrous, sparsely to moderately lenticellate,            lenticles; 5 per cm², an average of 1.5 mm in length and 1            mm in width, N186C in color.        -   Internode length.—Average of 5.3 cm.        -   Branching.—Average of 9 lateral branches.        -   Stem fasciation.—None observed.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Ovate to broad ovate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Short attenuate.        -   Leaf apex.—Broad apiculate.        -   Leaf margins.—Serrate.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper and lower surface 144B in            color.        -   Leaf size.—Matures to an average of 11.6 cm in length and            8.6 cm in width.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface; glabrous and very slightly            rugose, lower surface; glabrous.        -   Leaf color.—Young foliage upper and lower surface; 144A,            mature foliage upper surface; N137A, mature foliage lower            surface; a blend of 137D and 147B.        -   Petioles.—An average of 2.9 cm in length and 3 mm in            diameter, upper and lower surface 144B in color, both upper            and lower surfaces glabrous and moderately glossy.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal panicle, flattened mophead in            form comprised of a center region of inconspicuous fertile            flowers surrounded by numerous single sterile flowers.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Persistent for 6 months with            pink coloration retained for 6 months (become more green).        -   Lastingness as a cut flower.—At least 3 weeks as a fresh cut            and for many months as the flowers age (when classic green).        -   Inflorescence number.—One per lateral or sublateral stem if            pinched.        -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 11.1 cm in height and 19.7 cm            in diameter.        -   Flower number.—Average of 90 sterile flowers and 27 fertile            flowers per panicle.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright to outward.        -   Flower size.—Sterile flowers; an average of 4.7 cm in            diameter and 1.6 mm in depth, fertile flowers; an average of            9 mm in diameter and 5 mm in depth.        -   Flower type.—Rotate.        -   Flower buds.—Sterile flowers; average of 9 mm in length and            1 cm in diameter prior to opening, obovate in shape, 145A in            color, fertile flowers; average of 4 mm in width and            diameter, broad obovate in shape, 145C with base 145A in            color.        -   Peduncles.—Moderately strong, average of 3.5 cm in length            and 2 mm in width, 150D in color, surface is dull and            glabrous.        -   Pedicels.—Sterile flowers; held at an average angle of 45°            from vertical, an average of 3 cm in length and 2 mm in            diameter, strong strength, 157A to 157B in color, surface            dull and glabrous, fertile flowers; held at an average angle            of 15° from vertical, an average of 5 mm in length and 1 mm            in diameter, moderate strength, a blend of 145D and 150D in            color, surface is dull and glabrous.        -   Petals.—Fertile flowers; average of 5, rotate in            arrangement, ovate and concave in shape, entire margin,            acute apex, cuneate base, average of 3.5 mm in length and 2            mm in width, upper and lower surface glabrous and dull,            color of upper surface when opening and when fully open 64D,            color of lower surface when opening 151D and when fully            opened 151D suffused with 62D, color not fading, sterile            flowers; an average of 4, rotate arrangement, acute apex,            cuneate base, entire margins, ovate and concave in shape, an            average of 3 mm in length and 2 mm in width, upper and lower            surface; glabrous and dull, color; upper surface when            opening; 65A with margins and base NN155C, lower surface            when opening; 68C, upper surface when fully opened 65A with            margins and base NN155C, lower surface when fully opened;            68C, color not fading.        -   Sepals.—Sterile flowers; average of 4, rotate arrangement,            broad rhomboidal to deltoid in shape, moderately to strongly            overlapping, an average of 2.9 cm in length and 3.1 cm in            width, broad acute apex, obtuse base, upper and lower            surface glabrous and dull, entire margins (occasionally            notched near apex), color when opening upper surface; 62A to            62C and irregularly blotched with a mix of 145A to 145B,            144A, and 143C, with veins N155C, color when opening lower            surface; 62C and irregularly blotched with 145A, color when            fully opened upper surface; a blend of 61C and 53B and            irregularly blotched with 143B (irregular in location but            most typically in centers) and veins of N155C color when            fully opened lower surface; a blend of 63C and 64D,            irregularly blotched with 145B, fading to 70C to 70D,            fertile flowers; 5, rotate in arrangement, ovate in shape,            entire margin, acute apex, broadly cuneate base, average of            2 mm in length and 0.15 mm in width, both surfaces are            glabrous and dull, color of upper surface when opening 145B            to 145C and when fully opened 145B, color of lower surface            when opening and when fully open 145C, color is not fading.-   Reproductive organs: (Present on fertile flowers and occasionally on    sterile flowers).    -   -   Stamens.—Sterile flowers; average of 8, anther is broad            reniform in shape, 0.75 mm in length and 155A in color,            filament is 3 mm in length and NN155B to NN155C in color,            pollen is low to moderate in quantity and 155A in color,            fertile flowers; average of 10, anther is broad reniform in            shape, 0.75 mm in length and 157A to 157B in color, filament            is 3.5 mm in length and NN155B in color, pollen is low to            moderate in quantity and 196D in color.        -   Pistils.—Sterile flowers; average of 2, average of 1.5 mm in            length, stigma is clavate in shape and NN155C to NN155D in            color, style is an average of 1 mm in length and 145C in            color, ovary is 144B in color, fertile flowers; average of            3, an average of 1.5 mm in length, stigma is clavate in            shape and 157D in color, style is an average of 1 mm in            length and 145B in color, ovary is 145B in color.-   Fruit and seed: Has not been observed to date.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named‘QUFU’ substantially as herein illustrated and described.